Just an FYI to let everyone know (in case you haven't noticed) that we've got new blog buttons which have been updated at the bottom of this page. I know some of you have the old blog buttons on your pages that can be updated to these new ones. (they don't automatically update) And for those of you who would like to add the blog buttons to your site or blog who haven't before, I'd be so appreciative. I am always so grateful to each of you who are willing to place my buttons on your pages/sites. It means the world to me. Here are copies of what the two new buttons look like...
In order to copy and paste the code for these buttons, you will need to scroll to the bottom of this page. Highlight the code for the button(s) you want to place on your blog or site. Then go to the top of your page on your toolbar and click on "page." From there, click copy. Then, you should be able to go to your page and click "paste" in the area where you add blog buttons, links, etc.
Again...a HUGE thank you to each of you whom are willing to add these to your own blogs or websites. I can't express my gratitude enough. Blessings, Angie
Remember how we discussed "zoom" lenses yesterday? And remember how I said that I'm not really a "zoom" lens girl because I don't like the image quality you have to give up when using one over prime lenses? And then I followed that with they sure are "fun to play with at times though?" Well, this was another one of those instances. I shot these last week when Mom and I were at the Beach. (obviously)
Keep in mind, this gentleman is at least a football fields length away from me. And because of that, he has no idea that I'm shooting this images. Shame on you Angie! ;)
This gentleman walked by us at one point and kept walking way down the beach. We noticed him suddenly stop next to the girlie pink beach bag you see in the sand. He suddenly began doing exercises like a mad man. Tons of them. He put my lazy butt to shame. We couldn't quite figure out why he was exercising like a crazy person in the middle of the sand. No towel. No nothing. Then...insert pretty girl in white bathing suit...
Yeap, you guessed it. The pink beach bag belongs to the pretty unsuspecting girl in the white bathing suit. It finally dawned on us that this gentleman was definitely trying to get this woman's attention. But she never looked at him. Instead...she just kept talking to her wonderful elderly woman friends...
And talking...
All the while...this exercising kept going on and on and on for I have no idea how long. Keep in mind, it's like 81-82 degrees here that day - sun beating down - sand is hot - dude is surely sweating like a mad man by this point - but yet he keeps going. And going. Like the energizer bunny. Never stopping. It was the funniest thing I've ever watched. He had exercise moves like Mom and I had never seen before. Again though, I need some of *HIS* energy. I felt like a beached whale watching him workout like that on the beach in front of everyone. Fo' real! The end result to the story....the pretty woman in the white bathing suit never even noticed his existence. He eventually quit working out and mosey'd on back down the beach where he had originated from. Men! Speaking of men...and zoom lenses...these 5 men were out on this boat in the ocean - far enough away that we couldn't make out their faces. Insert zoom lens. Now we can see them. LOL! They all looked so cute out there - like they should be in the movie "On Golden Pond" together or something. Hysterical! I hope that when I'm old I can still get out with my girlfriends and do fun stuff like these guys were together. Hats and all! :)
I love to people watch when I'm sitting on the beach so having the zoom lens really comes in handy - basically acting as binoculars when necessary. hee hee! Fun stuff. The lesson here is...be careful. Don't ever pick your nose or pick the wedgie out of your heiney when out and about. I could be lurking in the bushes somewhere with a telephoto lens and then end up sharing it here on the blog for all the world to see. LOL! JOKING!
You had to know that I couldn't stay mum about the COLTS victory last night over the NY JETS. I'm so very sorry but it just isn't in me. I apologize now to all of my New York blog readers as well as to anyone else who might be a JETS fan. It's all in good fun, eh? Us Hoosiers had been waiting for the JETS to come back to town after that win that we "HAD" to give them a couple of weeks ago. We owed them a good butt kickin'! And although the COLTS gave me a bit of a scare in the beginning of the game, I decided to work work thru it by focusing on my laptop rather than the game during that stagnant part. :) However, in good faith, like they always do...the COLTS game back to show the JETS who was REALLY boss.
Peyton and the rest of the BLUE gang always manage to pull thru and this season was no different. I was so jealous of my Dad and Cathy who were at the game last night. My Dad said they had a great time. I knew they would. It was just another moment when I wished I had been "home." The town of Indy undoubtedly went crazy after the win last night as they are known for. Our downtown Indianapolis knows how to PAR-TAY after wins such as those. Then, the community bleeds blue and white for days/weeks afterward. I can only imagine what it looks like back home as they begin to prepare for our 2nd Superbowl in Miami. YAY FUN!
The really cool thing though...is that the COLTS not only won but the SAINTS won last night as well. I'm sure some of you "might" remember me mentioning Coach Sean Payton here on the blog before. If you click HERE, there is a really old post that speaks of him. If you are long time blog followers, you might remember the post. Sean is the head coach of the New Orleans Saints and he is also married to our old neighbors sister. (long of the short, he is our old neighbors brother in law) Therefore, we got to spend a few brief moments with Sean a couple of times when he'd be next door visiting. Brent spent some time with him and our neighbor downtown after the football Combine in Indianapolis a few years back and ever since then, we've been rooting for him and the SAINTS to go all the way as well. He has been very good to send Brent and Brennen autographed SAINTS gear from time to time too. We've greatly appreciated his generosity in that area. With that said, we knew that their family would have a ball if the SAINTS and the COLTS ever went head to head in the Superbowl together. So...we've been keeping our fingers crossed for them that the end result would be as it is. The blue and the gold going for the Superbowl title in Miami. And speaking of Miami, it is only an hour away from us here in Naples. I've considered heading down there just for the mere thought of some good photos ops the day of the Superbowl itself. Should any of you run across tickets, let us know. What fun that would be! Typically they are so hard to come by though. I know when the COLTS went to the Superbowl last time, it was tough for anyone to get tickets and if you got them, you paid an arm and a leg for them. :(
So...way to go COLTS and way to go SAINTS. I can't wait for February 7th to roll around. What a great game this is going to be. And in case you are wondering...even though we like Coach Peyton in this house...
We WILL be rooting for our Indianapolis COLTS to win the Superbowl title. And lastly, my stepmom (Cathy) sent me this photo below this morning. She took it last night while they were at the game. I thought I'd share it here. If any of you missed it, they stretched this flag out while Jordin Sparks was singing our National Anthem at the game. Then, they released a bald eagle to fly over the flag during the song. It was an amazing sight to see. Very, very cool. It really gave me chills to watch it. We live in an incredible country...
The power of a telephoto zoom lens. A 70mm-300mm to be exact. I love it and all of its big bad glory. :) What started out as a peanut sized helicopter flying overhead on the beach the other day, ended up being ginormous once I zoomed in on him with my telephoto lens. Now normally I don't like to shoot with "zoom" lenses because I'm a "prime girl." (prime means no zoom - you zoom with your feet and legs) Prime lenses are much faster and much sharper than zoom lenses. For example, a 50mm, 85mm, or even my macro 105mm lens would be some of my favorites. However, when shooting things far off in the distance, a zoom lens is a must. Yes, you are going to give up some quality to the image when shooting with a zoom over a prime lens but in the end, it's still a fun lens to play with.
Turns out, there were sheriffs up in this helicopter. God thing I was on foot and not speeding in a car or I would've been had, eh? Ha ha!
If you look closely at each photo, the more I zoom, the more you begin to see the clarity of the people inside. Luckily, this chopper circled about 6 different times so I was able to get a variety of images as I zoomed in...
How they fly over the ocean, with no doors on that thing, leaning to and fro from side to side, I have no clue. It would make me a nervous wreck. I'd fear falling out the open door if it were me. However, they seemed pretty comfy up in there. LOL!
Now you can see the pilot pointing...
Amazing the technology of camera gear today. It's no wonder that stars/celebrities can't get by with anything when it comes to the paparazzi. I mean with huge lenses, you can be football fields away and they never even know you are there. I have an example of that. But...you have to stay tuned later this week for it. Pretty funny grouping of photos - of some unsuspecting poor soul that never knew I was there. I took them last week when on the beach and the individual was giving us a "show." I had to capture it on camera. Hope none of you know the person... LOL!
HER LOOK - NAPLES, FLORIDA CHILDREN'S PHOTOGRAPHER
Just because.
Just because I found this in some old images and had put them aside as "unusable."
Decided unusable wasn't a good categorization for this one any longer. This is Kenidi's "look" and I love it. Her hair had gotten really long recently. I took her to a nearby salon and got her hair cut back off in an angled bob yesterday - similar to what she had here. As I was driving her home, I looked in my review mirror at her new "do" and thought..."Now that is the Kenidi I know." The long locks just didn't do much for her - other than create chaos in the morning as we tried to comb out the tangles before the bus came. Not fun. But this...this is fun. The picture, her look, the "do," all of it.
Fun-ness I say.
Finding an older image like this is like finding money in a coat pocket that you never knew was there. ;0) Good stuff!
Beach days where your Mom wakes you up for school but instead of getting ready for the bus, you get ready for the beach after she informs you that you are getting a "free day."
Yeap, a free day. A free pass. A day with Mom, without your sister. A day where Brennen gets to be Brennen and not be overshadowed by his sister or her disabilities. God love her.
Let's face it...healthy siblings of special needs children really get the short end of the stick many times. We find that Brennen's life is constantly altered due to the limitations Kenidi has in life. It's not fair to him. Therefore, I decided a beach day with Mom was fitting. A beach day where I could take him and just hang out - allowing him to be himself rather than "Kenidi's brother" for those few hours. And even though we missed our little Kenidi dearly while she was at school for the afternoon, we had some much needed Mommy & son time.
I'll spare you the details of his whining during our 30 minute walk back down the beach to our car as we were leaving that day and just leave you with the warm and fuzzies we had before all that. LOL!
We drove into Captiva Island the other night. A storm was about to roll in but it was still gorgeous as ever. We pulled off at one point and I jumped out to grab a shot of the wave caps rolling in. It was a sight to see - the waters all big and bad - proving once again that the sea is a force to be reckoned with. My Dad has a set of friends that do a lot of boating down here throughout the year. His wife always says that the ocean "is one mean B_ _ _ H!" Oh how she is. LOL! You just can't tame the sea. There is no reasoning with her massive waves, her thunderous lapping on the shore, or her silent but deadly undertow at times. This particular area had a sign that read "DANGER! Strong undertow. No swimming!" It was a spot that you definitely would not want to jump into.
Eventually the clouds let up and the dark eerie looks caved to pink cotton candy skies again. Amazing how life can be so dark one minute and yet so bright, vibrant, and promising the next. It can give us "whiplash" thru all of the emotions life presents us with at times. Lots of back and forth. Lots of ups and downs. Some higher and some lower than others. Mom and I talked about life today. We drove over into Sanibel to go shelling this morning. It has been an 80 degree day and totally gorgeous outside. I've had a few blog readers asking for some shells from the beach here so we decided to go hand pick some for each of them. On the drive there and back we discussed how remaining positive - even thru the hell in life - is so much better than dying to the enemies negativity. Many days it is harder for me to remember that than on others but I am continually striving to "try" and find the good in everything. This past week has been a challenge for me - finding good in what I'm seeing happen to friends around me. However, without faith that the rainbow is yet to come, what is there to live for? Without hope that the sun will rise again, why bother? I have to keep the faith. I have to keep hoping. I have to keep praying. It's all I know to do.
Many people have emailed me and asked me how I've managed to remain so positive - especially thru some personal problems over the past year. Little do they know, I've had my melt downs and my moments of despair. In the end though, you must get back up. You must keep standing. The only answer I have for how I've survived such a helldacious year is God. To me...there is no other choice. No other answer. Without him, I might as well forget it. Do I ever get mad at God? No. Do I question him? Absolutely not. I've learned that his way might not always be "my way" but it is ALWAYS the BEST way. Life isn't easy with God but it sure is "easier" than if I was without him. And speaking of my helldacious year, it was nothing compared to what some of our dear friends are experiencing right now. I feel silly to even call my ordeals helldacious because quite frankly...they were a walk in the park compared to most peoples problems. Six months later, I'm alive. Standing. Smiling. Better off because of it. Stronger due to it. A different individual via those struggles. Prayers work and your prayers brought me up and out of a very difficult time in my life. That ordeal 6 months ago is now part of "my story." Part of "my book." A chapter that totals a novel full of life experience. Without it, I wouldn't be the Angie I am today. God intended my pain for good. I'm confident in that. I pray daily that he will use me & my stories in any capacity - any format - where he feels I'm needed and able. His plan is always the best plan. His way always the best way. I keep reminding myself of this as I reflect on the events and the pain of last week. None of it makes any sense to me. Not one ounce of it. But I am going to continue to pray for those hurting. It's the only weapon I have against Satan's arsenal of negativity and anguish. It's one powerful weapon at that. God's word and his promises are mighty ones. Big, bad, strong, tough guy like ones. I'm letting God "get on with his bad self" and lead the way - for all of us. Because if God is on our side, who can be against us???
"A pessimist only sees the dark side of the clouds, and mopes; a philosopher sees both sides and shrugs; an optimist doesn't see the clouds at all - he's walking on them.” ~Leonard Levinson
That is right friends. After much demand, I've decided to offer an in person group workshop for beginner photographers. It took some prodding and provoking but I finally caved. This workshop is strictly for beginners looking to learn more about their cameras as well as the basics of photography. I've found some great vendors who are willing to work with us here in Naples. First being my all time favorite hotel in the area...The Inn on 5th.
The inn on 5th is located dead center in the heart of everything "Naples." Step outside the door of the hotel and you have a world that mimics a little Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. The accommodations are situated on the quaint and upscale 5th avenue in downtown Naples. Just steps from the hotel is the beach. The scenic night life, restaurants, exquisite cafes, boutique shops, and sandy white beach are what make this hotel a perfect location for our workshop together. Not only will you get a full instructor led educational workshop on photography but you will also be getting a beautiful tropical get-a-way. With a roof top pool, state of the art fitness center, and a world class spa, you can't go wrong. The Inn on 5th and their staff will be hosting our FAB workshop retreat and I couldn't be happier about that. As for more detailed information surrounding the workshop, see below...
WHEN: September 24th-26th, 2010
COST: $899 (includes workshop itself, beautiful shared hotel accommodations, free WIFI while in hotel, and a FAB swag bag to take back home full of goodies and offers - all things photography.) Private accommodations available at an additional rate should you not wish to share a room. Please contact me at Angie@AngieSeamanPhotography.com for more details on the single rooms.
REGISTRATION DATES: January 19th-July 24th, 2010
Join Angie & a group of other beginner photography students such as yourself in Naples, Florida for a hands on, instructor led, learning workshop for those looking to hone in on the skills needed to pursue their photography passion. This workshop is for beginners & is structured around the basics of photography and the features of your cameras. If you are pursuing photography as a future career or if you are a Mom just looking to learn how to photograph your children better, this workshop is for you. Spend the weekend with Angie as she shows you how she shoots, why she shoots the way she does, how best to tackle tricky lighting situations, composition advice, camera education, as well as some post processing techniques to give your images an extra umph! We'll spend Friday night over a meet & greet dinner together by the sea, getting to know the other participants in attendance. Saturday begins bright & early with a light breakfast together & then a full day of following Angie around the downtown streets of Naples, Florida as we discover how to pick the best shooting locations, find great lighting, ornate textures, etc. Watch Angie photograph a live model & observe how she interacts with clients, her no pose techniques, etc. You'll also be working in groups together so you can practice the new techniques we are learning as you go along. Shooting will break for a quick lunch but continue on into the evening with a beach session at sunset in the white sand overlooking the warm gulf of Mexico waters. Dinner will follow with a recap of the day. On Sunday, we'll learn a few hours of hands on post processing/editing tips together as well as oversee how Angie tackles her work flow before dismissing the workshop between 11am-noon. The price of the workshop includes shared/roommate accommodations for your two night stay in Naples, Florida. (Meals not included) If you have a roommate you prefer to share a room with, please note his/her name when reserving your seat in the class. Please note: If you are outside the workshop area, airfare & transfers to & from Naples, Florida are not included in the workshop price. Attendees are responsible for booking & scheduling their own flights & transfers. If you are local, you are responsible for your own transportation to & from the hotel in downtown Naples. Cost includes great swag bag with wonderful offers/goodies for all who attend. Seats are very limited. Reserve your spot ASAP. No refunds.
To register, click HERE and go to "classes." Should you have any additional questions, feel free to contact me at Angie@AngieSeamanPhotography.com
I'm looking forward to spending an awesome weekend in paradise with each of you.
I got a special delivery the other day. It was a box from my dear friend/sewing employee, Karen. When I opened the box it came shipped in, I saw the words "Shari's Berries" across the top of a maroon ribbon wrapped box inside. I knew right away what they were. Karen had told me a while back ago about this place that delivers chocolate covered strawberries and just how impeccable they were. She wasn't kidding...
Needless to say, these bad boys lasted mere seconds in our house. They were beautiful in presentation but even more scrumptious to taste. Not only that but they were HUGE - GINORMOUS in size. We got our belly's worth - that is fo' sho'!
I loved all of the different flavors and the different textures that they had for us in the box. They made for beautiful photographs.
Thank you Karen. These were DY-NO-MITE! I loved every bite of them. So did the rest of my clan. You are such a sweetheart. I can't wait for your visit in March. We are going to tear up the town in downtown Naples, enjoy sun drenched days on the beach, and pink cotton candy sunsets at night. Fun times...fun times...!
For now, I'm off to take Brennen to his first night of basketball practice here in Florida. He is on a new team and so very excited to get started and back into the normal swing of things with his sports again. The only bad thing about it is the 8pm Monday night practices. Who sets these schedules anyway? We always get the crappy time slots when it comes to the weekly practices. It must be a man that sets these schedules because I KNOW there aren't any Moms out there scheduling basketball practices at 8pm on a school night. Grrrr! Until the next post, enjoy the rest of your evening. xoxo, Angie
I'm getting away from it all and enjoying the day with my Mom. It is supposed to be almost 80 degrees and so sunny that it could be deemed criminal today. Yesterday we hit the secret beach for a long walk and it looked like this...
The birds and dolphins were out in full force. It was a gorgeous sight to say the least. I can't wait to see what we discover today. Yesterday even produced some massive fish up on the beach. The gulf waters had been so cold due to that cold front over the past two weeks and many fish didn't survive. This guy was as big as my leg. He was washed ashore and I just had to grab a shot for Brennen. I knew he would love seeing it.
Look at his little teeth...
There was a great big nasty jellyfish dead on the beach yesterday too. He doesn't look big here but he was BIG!
All in all, the walk yesterday was much needed. Mom thanked me over and over as we left for bringing her along. We needed the rejuvenation. The cleansing that only the seaside can give.
At one point we thought we spotted "Tiger Woods" yacht out at sea...
Just kidding. But it was a big ol' Tiger Woods style yacht. Oh...and no...for those of you who've asked...you don't want to hear my thoughts on the whole Tiger Woods issue. Really - you don't. LOL!
So today we are headed out to the seaside again. We kept breathing thru the events of yesterday and today the sun has risen yet again. Therefore...who knows what the tide will bring in. We are off to go find out...
As I type this...my parents are standing in a funeral home at a viewing. I should be there with them but I'm not. And I'm beside myself over the fact that I'm not there. Instead I'm what feels like a million miles away - states away. They are at a viewing for the daughter of some of their best friends. It's a showing everyone has been dreading all week long. A showing for a beautiful 31 year old girl who left this earth way too soon. My parents are there to stand side by side with their friends in support of them as they endure the tragic death of their daughter, my childhood friend. They are there - knowing that there are no words they can say and no actions that they can take to make this any easier for her parents. But they are there because that is what friends do. That is what friends are for. They wouldn't have it any other way. It makes me sick to my stomach that I'm not there to give each of them a hug. A huge embrace. Instead, I'm sitting here - looking at the cotton candy skies in Florida - praying incessantly for their peace and strength tonight. It's the only thing I know to do. God is the one and only solitary answer to all of this anguish.
A couple of years back, I was asked to stand up and give a simple prayer at my Grandfathers funeral. As nervous as I was, the moment eventually came. Ironically, as I rose to my feet in front of the many faces in attendance to say the prayer, I slowed down just long enough to gaze out at the faces in that room that day. As I scanned the crowd, I saw only sets and sets of familiar individuals. Friends. Friends of my Dad and Cathy's actually. Their friends whom I had grown up around as a young girl and whom were there at the funeral in support of Cathy when her father passed. I immediately felt a sense of comfort when I looked out at them. They were dear friends to me now as well - to me as an adult. I was no longer this 7, 10, 15, or 20 year old little girl. I was in my thirties and they were "still" there. Still around. Still friends with my parents. There is a huge group of them - all who went to school together really. They've stuck together like glue since as long as I can remember. And tonight...they are stuck together like glue again - surrounding the casket of one of their best friends daughters.
I remember thanking that group before my prayer that day a few years back. I thanked them for being there for my parents during that difficult time when my Grandfather passed unexpectedly. I told them that they had been there for my family for as long as I could remember and that they were the epitome' of true friends. They were what REAL friends look like. I thanked them for loving my parents and for always being there-by their side. It was such a comforting feeling to know that although I was nervous over being asked to say a small silly prayer in a room full of people, I was amongst friends. Friends whom are like family to me. Friends who ARE family to my Dad and Cathy. Tonight those friends and my Dad and Cathy are back at another funeral home. Standing as a family in support of those who are in agonizing pain over Krissy's death. They have all been thru so much together but tonight's events and the burial tomorrow morning will undoubtedly be one of the most trying and painful situations they've all encountered together thus far.
As I walked the beach today with my Mom, I said many prayers for all of them but especially for Krissy's parents and her brother. The clock was like a ticking time bomb to me as I watched it count down the hours to when the showing/viewing was set to begin. I tried and tried to put it out of my mind but it was far too difficult. They are hurting. We are hurting. Life is just not fair. My only peace is staring at the skies tonight and being envious that Krissy has wings and can soar with the heavens for eternity now.
Call up your parents tonight and tell them you love them. I did. I let my Dad know before he walked into that funeral home how much I am blessed to have him as my Father. As my Dad. Then...text, call, or email your best friend(s) and tell them what they mean to you. Ask them if they are OK in life. And most of all...hug your children. Hug them tightly - even if they are adult children. If you can't get close enough for a hug...call and check in on them. Life is too short. When I look back on that old picture below of Krissy and I with her brother as kids, I'm saddened at the thought that I had no idea just how numbered her days on this earth were back then. How little she would get to live out life. How young she would be when she left us. I am so very thankful to have known her and to have had the moments with her that I did back then. Friends. Call them. Hug them. Support them. Encourage them. Love them.
Like the small birdhouse I found in our backyard (in Indy) pictured above...life is so dark sometimes. It has large, dark, gaping, holes that can leave us so very lonely. So very devastated. Life can produce pain that is deafening. This weekend I heard nothing but silence. Silence and the whispers of the enemy trying to tempt my ear. Sad news from a best girlfriend. Tragic news regarding a dear family friend. Satan almost had me beat. Almost.
It is in moments like these when we are taught not to ask "Why" - so I won't. I refuse to question God. However, I told him that after the past couple of days...I was depleted of every ounce of strength I had. I'm relying on him completely to replenish it. Today is better. Exhausted but better. The weather is finally beginning to show signs of warming up here in Florida again which will allow us the chance to break out and about in the sunshine. Yes, it has been cold. Not cold enough for snow here in Naples but way too cold for Floridians. The outdoors is always a positive thing-I'm looking forward to hitting the beach again. Praying that each of you have a great week and that you hug your loved ones when doing so. Life is just so very short. So very, very, short.
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